small



Aug. 21, 1928.

A. E. SMALL.

METAL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Oct. 9. 1922 :s sheets-Sheet 1 zvefzaf:

Attorney Aug. 21, 192s.

1,681,811 A. E. SMALL METAL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Oct. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 21, 1928.

' 1,681,811 A. E. SMALL METAL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Oct. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5' E9. 21. Ff/3. 2.32425.

Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. SMALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORFORATION OF DELAWARE.

METAL STRUCTURE FOR RAILW AY CARS.

Application filed October 9, 1922. Serial No. 595,634.

My invention relates to the construction of railway cars and more particularly to metal end vstructures or walls for railway cars made of one or more metallic plates or panels formed with integral reinforcing, stiiiening and bracing corrugations or embossments. However, this device may be incorporated in the construction of car side walls,iioors, roofs or doors used in connection with railway cars of various types.

lIt is well known that the end walls of railway cars are more likely to be broken or otherwise injured than the side walls. Thisis due yto the inertia thrusts and pressures caused by the shifting of the cargoes when the train starts or stops. These thrusts may be local, tending to distort the end in some particular' spot, as, for example, when a pieceot piping or lumber shifts lengthwise imparting a blow against the end wall of the car; or there may be a general tendency to break out the end wall als a whole or tear it away from the traming. For the purpose, therefore, of greater strength and durability, car ends have been constructed of metal plates corrugated or formed with ribs to impart the desired strength, rigidity and resiliency.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a corrugated or embossed metallic end structure for railway cars in which the corrugations or embossments have a configuration and arrangement that impart to the structure a maximum capacity for resistiiig cargo thrusts, both local and general static or quiescent, and with suiiicient resiliency to prevent permanent distortion due to the thrusts of the loads, with a minimum weight of metal. It is important that structures of this sort should be as light as is possible, consistent with strength and durability, both for reasons of economy in manufacturing cost and also to keep the weight of the car at a minimum. y

A further object is to provide a corrugated metallic wall element that is practically possible to manufacture. A further object is to provide a metallic wall element with corrugations or. embossments that resist to a greater degree torsional stresses, as well as brace the element, and the car end against diagonal side thrusts or weaving. Another object is to form a metallic plate with integral corrugations or ribs which .impart to it a cern nent distortion.

In the drawings:

1 is an end elevation of a. box car equipped with my invention.

F 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is an end elevation of a gondola car equipped with my invention.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 1 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a corrugated plate.

Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

9 is ak section on line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of aportion of the plate on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate on line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section of a portion ofthe plate on line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section of a portion pf the plate showing a modiiied form on line 1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 141 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line s-s of Fig. 5.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section of a portion of the rplate showing a modified form on line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 16 is a front view of a modiied form ot plate.

Fig. 17 is a top view of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a sect-ion on line 18 18 of Fig. 16. 19 is a section on line 19 19 of Fig. 16. Fig. 20 is a section on line 20-20 of Fig. 16. Fig. 21 is a front view of a modified form.

Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

22 is a top view of Fig. 21. 23 is a section on line 2? 23 of Fig. 21. 24 is a section on line 24k-24 of Fig. 21. 25 is a section on line 25 25 of Fig. 21. 26 is a front view of a modified torni. 27 is a top view of Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is a section on line 28 28 of Fig. 26. Fig. 29 is a section on line 29 29 of Fig. 26. Fig. 30 is a section on line 30-30 or" Fig. 26. Ltike characters ot reference designate like par s.

' The end wall structure shown in the above figures comprises a panel composed of a corrugated metal plate or plates.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the corrugated plates 1, 2 and 3 extend across the car'from side to side and are formed with integral flanges 4 alongthe vertical edges wliichoven lap and are secured to the frame members lof the side walls 5 of the car by any suitable means.

The top edge of the end wall is secured beneath the fascia boards 7 andthe meeting edges of the plate overlap and are secured together by rows of rivets8 andthe lower edge of the end wall is secured to the end sill I9.

=' N ailing strips 10 are secured to the'plates 1,

2 and 3 by bolts and lining 11 is secured to the nailing strips 10.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the invention applied to a gondola type of ear, wherein only one plate 12 is used to form the end panelwhich extends from side to yside of the car and is provided along the verticaledges with flanges 13 which overlap-and are secured to the frame members ofthe side walls 14 by any suitable means. The topy edge of the plate is secured to the top chord 15 by rivets 16, while the lower edge is secured by rivets 17 to the end sill 18.

Vhifle the corrugations are shown pressed outwardly, and in horizontal arrangement, it is understood that the corrugations or embossments may be pressed inwardly or partially inwardly and partially outwardly from `the original plane kof the plate or .the eorrugationsor embossments -may 'be 'placed in any position for instance vertically or diagonally. The plates or panelsmay be positioned vertically or horizontally and applied to any type of railway car.

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive showt-he preferred form wherein the plate is vprovided ,with a plurality of parallel embossments, each embossinent comprising a plurality of sinuous minor corrugations "2O formed therein Vx'vhich are spaced apart distances substantially equal to their respective widths and the part of the plate between adjacent minor corrugations is also sinuous so that these minor corrugations merge together to form a contiguous sinuous configuration symmetrical in cross section about a line midway -between the outermost port-ions of these minor corrugations so that this line is the neutral axis ofthe section. Such a section is very resilient and has a spring like action under loads, and,I furthermore, produces a very strong section for the amount of meta-l used. VVlhese minor corrugations merge 4into the plane of the plate by means of terminal portions of any desired formation. A plurality (two or more) of such minor corrugations 20 merge-together between their ends or preferably `adjacent; the middle of the plate (or middle of the embossment comprising the minor and major corruga-tions) to form a lesser' numberof major end `portions of the embossments.

part 26 of the plate 24 between these major corrugations is also preferably flat, thus forming a configuration symmetrical in lerossseetion about a line midway between the outermost portions of these ma]or corrugations so thatthislineiis the-neutral axis of the section.

Such a section is stronger and relatively rigid as 4compared'iwith Ethe section of the sinuous minor corrugations because more metal is positioned away Ifrom the neutral axis.'y By such an arrangement a corrugated metallic plate is provided which is relatively rigid/adjacentthe middle portion of theembossments and 'relatively resilient adjacent the opposite Tlie'secondary opposite'ly projecting rib or `rcorrugation 22 formed by the mergingof .theitwoadjacent minorcorruga'tions 2O is equal :in width Ito the adjacent minor corrugations .at 23 and decrease in width as the minor corrugations merge together to lform the ina-jor `corruga- `tion 21. These secondary oppositely projecting ribs 22 also preferably decrease in depth -so lthat any concentrated stretch :of metal -is eliminated where the 'minor corrugations `merge together.

Figs. 1 0, 11 and 12 are detail enlargements of portions of the plate taken on lines?, Sand I9, respectively, of -Fig. 5 showing the flat apex A25 of the major corrugation (Fig. 10) split 4or divided lby the secondary lcorrugation 122 into two contiguous sinuous corrugations 20 '(I'Figj12').

Figs. 13, 14 and 115 are detail enlargements `of a `modified Vforni of corrugation similar to Figs. 10, 11 and i12, respectively., wherein the vapex (29!) of the majorcorrugation is arcuate.

Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive show `a modification wherein lt-he embossments have parallel sides.

Figs. V211 to k25 inclusive are similar to Figs. 5 Ato L9 inclusive except that they illustrate .three minor corrugations merging into a sin gle major corrugation.

Figs. 26 to 30 `inclusive show aI modified form wherein the major corrugations 31 have arcuate lor sinuous apices 30 and .the portion -ofthe plate 31 lbetween adj acent-embossmen-ts is also arcuated Ior sinuous. The major corrugations .are preferably of uni-form width for a short distance attheeenxter 4of the plate to provide greater strength for a wider portion of the plate and also to facilitate changing the forming dies when it is .desired to increase or decrease the 'length of the corrugations or embossments. (See Fig. 26.)

Plates `provided with -a plurality of contiguous narrow corrugations possess a considerable amount of elasticity and when struck a blow deflect readily and regain their shape withoutrdistortion, whereas a plate rovided with wide flat corrugations, th oughv etter able to carry quiescent loads, has not the resiliency of the former and is more readily distorted when struck a blow.

It is, therefore, desirable to design a plate that possesses great strength to withstand the sudden impact load blows with suiiicient resiliency to resist distortion.

The particular form and advantages of the terminations of the corrugations illustrated in Fig. 5 are not described or claimed specifically herein, but are described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,547,831 dated July 28, 1925, for corrugated wall elements.

This application is confined to the construction wherein the minor corrugations merge to fornithe major corrugations, while my application Serial No. 595,632, filed October 19, 1922, for corrugated metallic wall elements covers the construction wherein the major corrugation is split into two or more minor corrugations.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A metallicy wall panel for railway cars having a reinforcement formed therein, comprising a plurality of stiifening ribs which merge into each other to form a relatively wider stiifening rib, adjacent the center of said reinforcement substantiallyv parallel to the first mentioned ribs.

2. A metallic panel for a railway car structure having a plurality of reinforcements formed therein with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel, the ends of said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprising tension and compression members substantially equalA in width connected by webs spaced substantially equidistant apart, a plurality of said reinforcements merging into each other adjacent their centers so that said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprise relatively wider tension and compression members substantially equal in width connected by webs spaced substantially equi-distant apart.

3. A metallic panel for a railway car structure having a p plurality of reinforcements formed therein with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel, the ends of said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprising tension and compression members substantially equal in width connected by webs spaced substantially equi-distant apart, a plurality of said reinforcements merging into each other adjacent their centers so that said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprise relatively wider tension and compression members suhstantially equal in width connected by webs spaced substantially equi-distant apart, the height of said reinforcements remaining constant the major portion of their length.

4. A metallic panel for a railway car structure having a plurality of reinforcements formed therein with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel, said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprising tension and' compression members connected by webs and vreinforcing ribs springing from said tension members between the opposite ends of the reinforcements which gradually increase in depth and in width toward the opposite ends of the reinforcements.

5. A metallic panel for a railway car structure having a pluralityv of reinforcements formed therein with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel, said reinforcements and the parts of the panel between them comprising tension and compression members connected by webs and vreinforcing ribs springing from one of said members between the opposite ends of the reinforcements which gradually increase in depth and in width toward the opposite ends of the reinforcements. 6. A metallic-plate provided with a plurality of corrugations terminating adjacent the edges thereof that merge into a lesser number of corrugations adjacent the center ofl said plate substantially parallel to the first mentioned corrugations.

7. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major and minor corrugations, uniform and contiguous at their ends, adjacent the edges of said plate and merging into a lesser number of major corrugations' adjacent their centers, the major corrugation being struck out parallel with the original plane of the plate, with the minor corrugations pressed in opposite direction within the major corrugation and at an angle to the original plane of the plate. 8. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of uniform contiguous corrugations at their ends adjacent the edges of Ysaid plate that merge into a lesser number of larger cori'ugatioiis adjacent the center of said plate.

' 9. A metallic plate having a plurality of corrugations terminating within said plate that merge into a lesser number of larger corrugations at the center of said plate substantially parallel to the first mentioned coirugations. Y

10. A metallic plate having a plurality of corrugations terminating within said plate that merge into a lesser number of larger corrugations at the center of said plate, the cross sectional area of said corrugated plate being substantially equal anywherev between, the planes where said corrugations begin to terminate into the plane of said plate.

11. A metallic plate wall panel having a plurality of reinforcements formed therein,

spaced apart distances substantially equal to their width, said `reinforcements .having parallel sides Jfor their entire length and comprising a plurality of stitfeningribs which merge into each otheradjacent thecenter thereof to form a Arelatively wider stiffening rib.

12. A metallic plate Aprovided with a `plurality of corrugations spaced apart distances substantially equal .to their width, said corrugations merging between their ends :into a lessernumber of .corrugations spaced apart distances substantially equal to their width.

13. `A metallic plate `provided with a .plurality of `co1.ri.igation s,spaced Yapart distances Substantially equal 4to their width, said corrugations merging between their ends into a `lesser number iof wider l.corrugations spaced apart distances .substantially equal to ,their width.

14. A `metallic plate provided with Va plus `ralit of corrugations merging adjacent .the `mid le of the vplate into `a lesser number of wider` `corrugations substantially parallel to the first mentioned corrugations.

15. A metallic plate lprovided with .a .plurality of eorrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway lbetween the outermost :portions off the ,corrugations said `corrugations merging between their ends into a lesser number yof corrugations symmetrical incross section about a line midway between .the outermost portions of the corrugations.

16. A metallic plate provided with a plurality `of corrugations Ysymmetrical in cross section about `a line `midwaybetween the outermost portions of the cornugations, said `corrugations merging ibetween their ends yinto a lesser number of wider corrugations symmetrical 'in cross section about a line `midway between the loutermost portions of the corrugations.

17. .A metallic plate provided with `a plurality of corrugations of consta-nt cross section. for a short distance at the center ot' the plate which diverge into a greater number of corrugations adjacent the edges 'of the plate.

'18. A ymetallic plate provided with a plurality `of sinuous corrugations, said corrugations `merging adjacent the middle of the .plate into a lesser number of cor-rugations with substantially fla-t apices.

19. metallic plate .provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations, said corrugations merging adjacent `the middle ofthe plate into a lesser number of wider corrugations with substantially fiat apices.

20. A wall for a railway car comprising ya metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame Amembers `of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the plate adj aeent said oppositely disposed frame members, said corrugations merging together adjacent the middle of the plate to form a lesser number of wider corrugations.

21. A Wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said `plate Y tially equal to their width with their opposite ends terminating into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members, said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a lesser number of wider corrugations spaced apart distances substantially equal to their width.

23. A wall for a railway car comprising a .metallic plate secured toi oppositely disposed :frame members of the car, said .plate provided with a plurality of corrugations symmetrical incross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the plate .adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members, .said corrugations merging together .between their ends to orm a lesser number of corrugations `symmetrical in cross section yabout a line midway 4between the outermost portions of the corrugations.

24. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided 'with a plurality of corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members7 said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a lesser number of wider corrugations symmet-rical in cross section about aline midway between the outermost portions vci the cor# rugations.

25. A wall for a railway car comprising` a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame `members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the `plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members, said corrugations merging 'together adjacent the middle of the plate to form a lesser number of corrugations which are of constant cross section for a short distance at 1 the middle of the plate.

26. A wall for a railway car Vcomprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the plate adjacentsaid oppositely disposed frame members, said corrugations merging together adjacent the middle of the plategto form a lesser number of wider corrugationsv which are of constant cross section for a short distance at the middle of the plate. f

27. A wall for a railwayvcar` comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of sinuous and contiguous corrugations with their opposite ends terminating into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members, said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a lesser number of corrugations with substantially flat apices. Y

28. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of sinuous and contiguous corrugations with their opposite ends termi nating into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members. said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a lesser number of wider corrugations with substantially flat apices.

29. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugations merging together between their opposite ends to form a plurality of fewer corrugations having substantially flat apices.

30. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugations merging together between their opposite ends to form a plurality of fewer wider corrugations having substantially flat apices.

31. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugations merging together between their opposite ends to form a plurality of fewer corrugations having substantially flat apices with the parts of the plate between the last mentioned corrugations also being substantially flat.

32. A metallic platevprovided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugat-ions merging together between their opposite ends to form a plurality of fewer wider corrugations having substantially fiat apices with the parts of the plate between the last mentioned eorrugations also being substantially flat.

vA metallic panel for a railway car structure having a plurality of reinforcements formed therein with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel, said reinforce ments and the parts of the panel between them comprising tension and compression sinuous therein comprising a plurality `of stiening` ribs which merge into each other between their ends to form a relatively wider stlffening rib substantially,parallel to the first mentioned ribs.

A metallic panel. formed with a plurality o f eorrugations that merge between their ends into a plurality of fewer corrugations substantially parallel to the first mentioned corrugations. n

3G. A metallic plate .for a railway car structure `having a reinforcement .formed therein comprising a plurality of sti'ening ribs which merge into each other between their ends to form a stiflening rib substantially parallel to the first mentioned ribs.

37. A metallic plate formed with a plurality of sinuous embossments with the parts of the plate between the embossments also of sinuous configuration, said embossments merging together between their ends to form a plurality of fewer embossments.

3S. A metallic plate formed with a plurality of sinuous embossments with the parts of the plate between the embossments also of configuration, said embossments merging together between their ends to form a plurality of fewer wider embossments.

39. A metallic wall structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a plurality of fewer corrug'ations having substantially flat apices, said corrugations terminating into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

40. A metallic wall structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinuous configuration, said corrugations merging together between their ends to form a plurality of fewer wider corrugations having substantially flat apices, said corrugations terminating into the plate adjacent said oppositcly disposed frame members.

41. A metallic wall structure for a railway car comprising' a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame membersof the car, said plate provided with a plurality of sinuous corrugations with the parts of the plate between said corrugations also of sinubeirig substantiallyllttsi eorrugaitions terminating ihtditlhe plate' adje'eht" Saidy ppb stely disposed frame members;

42. metallic Wall strutture' f r a'rilwty car com rising a metallic pl-te seeu'red to? oppositey? disposed frame members of the* car,` said platerprovded with a phirallty of together between their' ende. td form ai pllsubstantilly flat apiees with the parts othe also being sbst'fantially' flat, said eorrtlgationsterxiinatihglint'o itheplate -a'dj leent sald oppo 432 A? metalliestrueture for a railway car eomprisi'gl a' metallic plate Secured toA opp'oL sitely dspesecl vertical' frame members o the structure, saidplat'e prvdedwitli a plurality of areu'ate horizontalY eorrugatiiis of eolistlant" depth With the part'snf the plate be`` tweeneaid eorrugatonsV also ofarcua'te con# liguuton,A Saidv eorrugations merging to# getlirbtween their eridsto form a pluralitya of fewer horizontal corrugat'ons hav-ing subi stfelyfdisposed frame members; 1

RTHURE. SMA-LL; 

